I hope you enjoy this.

Chapter Eight:

Shaw was waiting for him at the end of his bed.

"You just couldn't follow the rules, could you?" he said almost sadly. "Now you have to pay the price."

"Leave me alone," Reid said weakly.

"I can't because of what you did," he said with growing disgust in his voice. "I thought I was doing you a favor by protecting you. And this is how you return a favor?"

"Leave," Reid said desperately.

"You better grow a set of eyes in the back of your head because I can get to you any time and any place. You'll never be safe again."

"No!" Reid cried.

"Dr. Reid!" another voice said.

"No!" he said scrambling his eyes closed. "No."

"Dr. Reid you can't will the world away," the voice said. "I've tried to. It doesn't work."

It was the voice of director Tanner Briggs.

"Leave me be," he moaned. "Leave me for Shaw to finish off."

"What about Sloane?" he asked. "She seems to like you."

"Tell her I'm sorry and she deserves better than me," he said refusing to open his eyes.

"Dr. Reid I've been keeping close tabs on your team. You're one of the brightest agent among a group of truly astounding people."

He turned away from the director. He didn't want to hear it.

"You deserve something special for your hard work and dedication."

"I went over the border without clearance, that isn't astounding work," he said icily.

"You were trying to help your mom and I might have done the same. Anyway, I have something for you."

"Director, I am tired," he said. "Leave me alone."

"Not yet," he said.

"Reid, if you're seeing this it means the director thinks you are at a dark place and need me."

He nearly pulled out his tubes as rolled to see the face of Hotch on the phone.

"Spencer, you're stronger than you think. I've been following the case and saw you got out. The director informed me that you were shot. I know you must be feeling out of control of your life but you aren't."

He had a long beard and there was a white wall behind him.

"You are so deeply loved Spencer. You may feel vulnerable now, but you will come out stronger, I promise. It won't be easy at first but it will eventually with support from the team and the director. Don't give up Spencer, not when so many of us want you to succeed and thrive after overcoming so many obstacles.

I won't ever stop missing you or the team, but I'm in a good place. Jack is happy and so am I. I wish nothing but joy for you Spencer."

He waved.

"It is time for me to go. Good-Bye Dr. Spencer Reid. Trust the director. I did and I know you can too."

The video ended and Reid was in tears.

"Hotch," he whispered.

"He's a good man," Briggs said. "And so are you."

Reid sat back, lost in thought.

Briggs stood up to look over him.

"How do you feel about living with Sloane, and three other teenagers while you recover?"

"Is one of them Lia?" he asked.